BY ANDREA SALINA FLEMING FOR FAIRMONT NEWS
Many communities around West Virginia, including Fairmont, are struggling to identify a solution to their vacant and abandoned buildings, which, over time, can become havens for drug activity and unsafe for neighboring properties. Our elected leaders are realizing there are major barriers to revitalizing downtown areas such as main street shopping districts and low-income neighborhoods that contain an abundance of these types of structures. The price tag may look appealing to purchase these buildings, but the renovation costs can far exceed a renovation budget.
Vacant and abandoned buildings have become not only a common problem, but a serious one — so serious that some local governments around West Virginia threaten fines if owners allow their unused buildings to fall into disrepair or become safety hazards. Other states have implemented laws to combat blight…
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